A source close to the situation said Kuper suffered a high ankle sprain. Kuper is going to try to play in Denver’s regular season opener Sept. 13 at Cincinnati. However, that may be an optimistic view. A high-ankle sprain could take weeks to heal. If Kuper can’t play, fourth-round pick Seth Olsen would likely substitute for him.

Still, the Broncos are looking at Kuper’s diagnosis as a positive. His injury looked to be much more serious when he had to be helped off the field Sunday night. Kuper is quietly becoming one of the best young guards in the NFL.